'The Music Man' strikes up the band at Cocoa Village Playhouse

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Cocoa Village Playhouse would like you to meet Harold Hill. He's just a bang-beat, bell-ringing, big-haul, great-go, neck-or-nothin', rip-roarin', every-time-a-bull's-eye salesman. He's also the charming spellbinder at the center of "The Music Man."

The Playhouse presents the classic American musical with all the feel-good trappings of nostalgia, romance and toe-tapping music. "The Music Man" opens Jan. 27 for a run that extends through Feb. 12.

In the show, charismatic con man Harold Hill makes his living as a fast-talking traveling salesman who dupes townsfolk into buying instruments for an imaginary band for their children. You see, "Professor" Hill doesn't know anything about music, so as soon as the instruments arrive and the money is in his pocket, he always skips town.

He has his work cut out for him when he lands in small town River City, Iowa, where the turn-of-the-20th-Century townspeople proudly embrace their reserved "chip-on-a-shoulder attitude."

Sweet voiced and smart librarian Marian Paroo immediately sees through Hill, but even she gets drawn into his spell when she sees the excited transformation of the town. That's when things get interesting, because Hill soon finds himself enchanted by Marian and the good people of River City.

The book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson features familiar classics like "Goodnight, My Someone," "Till There Was You" and of course, "76 Trombones."

"Who doesn't love a parade or a marching band?" said Cocoa Village Playhouse's CEO and artistic director, Dr. Anastacia Hawkins-Smith. "From barbershop quartets to lush strings, endearing love songs, and of course big, brazen, brass - the music permeates from the stage and stays with an audience long after they leave."

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In the mid-1950s, Willson wrote a note to future directors saying ''The Music Man'' was intended to be a valentine to the real small-town Iowans of 1912. The trick of subsequent productions has been to keep the characters from becoming caricatures.

"It is a portraiture of Americana that presents small-town life with nuance, as well as no small amount of humor along the way," said Hawkins-Smith.

One of the challenges of producing a big musical in today's post-COVID world has been to insulate the production from illness. To that end, Hawkins-Smith decided to double cast the show, splitting the roles between two stellar casts.

On Friday nights and Saturday matinees, Joseph Kienstra plays Harold Hill and Emily Cabana plays Marian Paroo. On Saturday nights and Sunday matinees, Ben Cox and Cathy Moubray take on the leading roles.

"Each cast member brings something to the production that makes them dear to my heart," said Hawkins-Smith.

“These leading men are spellbinding,” she said. “You really believe they are ‘Professor’ Harold Hill.”

The production also stars Tom Miller and Doug Grandey as Mayor Shinn; Sally Kalarovich and Amy Grandey as Eulalie Shinn; Sam Dribble and Henry Barone as Winthrop; Logan Hancock and Anderson Law as Marcellus Washburn; Paula Dribble and Christine Germain as Mrs. Paroo; Daniel Ciuro and David Trujillo as Charlie Cowell; Shane Withrow and Connor Deroche as Tommy Djilas and Ella Ciuro and Bria Cottrell as Zaneeta Shinn.

Despite the challenges of rehearsing two separate casts, Hawkins-Smith appreciates their dedication. "From the smallest child to the most seasoned performer, I am not only grateful for their time and talents, but heartfully believe that they are meant to be a part of this production at this time."

Hawkins-Smith believes "The Music Man" is a charming remedy for today's fast-paced world.

"In a time where it seems we are always spinning around doing a hundred different things," she said, "sometimes it takes something as universal as a musical to bring people together and forget about the world for a moment."

If you go

'The Music Man'

Where: Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Feb. 12, 2023

Tickets: Tickets start at $35 for adults, $23 for children, and $33 for seniors, students and active military.

Info: 321-636-5050

On the web: cocoavillageplayhouse.com

Christina LaFortune is the Entertainment and TGIF Editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/christinalafortune or send her an email at clafortune@floridatoday.com.

Whether you're interested in music, theater, festivals or other local entertainment, FLORIDA TODAY has got you covered. Support local journalism by subscribing at Special Offers - USAToday Network.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 'The Music Man' marches into Cocoa Village Playhouse